Summary & Overview
HCPCS Q4044: Pediatric Long Leg Fiberglass Splint
HCPCS Level II code Q4044 identifies pediatric long leg fiberglass splint supplies for children aged 0–10 and matters nationally because it standardizes billing for common immobilization supplies used in acute orthopedic care. Accurate coding of these supplies affects hospital and clinic supply management, outpatient revenue capture, and consistency in payer adjudication for pediatric fracture care. Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
Readers will learn what the code represents clinically and administratively, typical sites of service where the supply is used, and the payer landscape relevant to supply billing. The publication provides benchmarks for coding practice (where available), common modifier usage (listed separately), and clinical context for when a long leg pediatric fiberglass splint is supplied. It also summarizes policy considerations that influence coverage and reimbursement for orthopedic supply items and points readers to next steps for obtaining payer-specific guidance. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code Q4044 describes cast supplies, long leg splint, pediatric (0-10 years), fiberglass. The service type is pediatric orthopedic casting supply, used to fabricate or apply a long leg splint for children up to 10 years of age. The typical site of service is ambulatory clinic, emergency department, or outpatient orthopedic setting, where splinting and casting supplies are provided as part of fracture care or immobilization for acute injuries and post-procedural management.
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 7-year-old child presents to an urgent care clinic after sustaining a twisting injury to the lower leg while playing on the playground. The child has swelling, pain, and limited weight bearing. After evaluation, including targeted history and focused physical exam, plain radiographs of the tibia and fibula are obtained to rule out fracture. Imaging shows a nondisplaced distal tibial metaphyseal fracture requiring immobilization but not operative fixation. The clinician elects to apply a pediatric long leg splint using fiberglass cast supplies to immobilize the knee and lower leg for pain control and fracture stabilization while awaiting outpatient orthopedic follow-up.
The clinical workflow: initial triage and assessment by nursing; evaluation and imaging by the treating clinician; wound check and neurovascular assessment; application of Q4044 cast supplies (long leg splint, pediatric, 0–10 years, fiberglass) with appropriate padding and stockinette; patient and caregiver education on cast care, weight-bearing status, and signs of complications; scheduling of orthopedic clinic follow-up within 1–2 weeks. Documentation includes indication, limb laterality, materials used, size/age range, time of application, neurovascular status before and after application, and discharge instructions.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
LT | Left side |